Reversible driving mechanism



Sept. 1; I925. v 1,552,061

'- R. L. LEE

REVERSIBLE DRIVING MECHANISM 7 Filed Feb. 14, 1920 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ts wg af/zdgi ,0 xIGVQFw/W Sept- 1, 1925. 1,552,067

7 R. L..LEE

REVERSIBLE DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 14, 1920 f 4 Sheefs-Sheet 2 g 1 7 W W Sept. 1, 1925. 1,552,067

R. L. LEE

REVERSIBLE DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 14, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 1,1925. 1,552,067

. R. L. LYEE REVERS IBLE DRIVING MECHANI SM Filed Feb, 14, 1920 i 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4/ Fry. 5.

Patented Sept, l, 1925.

. {UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH 1., LEE, or DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 DELCO-LIGHT COMPANY, or DAYTON,

OHIO, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

REVERSIBLE DRIVING MECHANISM.

Application filed February 14, 1920. Serial No. 3 58,649.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALrH L. LEE, a citizen of the United Statesof Amerlca, residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, have invented cert-am new and useful Improvements in Reversible Drivin' Mechanism, of which the following is a fu 1, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to mechanisms for operating machines having a reclprocatmg or Oscillating operating member or shaft such as, for example, a washing machine of the dolly type.

Many mechanisms have been dev sed for effecting the oscillatory movement of the operating shaft of such mach1nes. These mechanisms generally include. a prime mover continuously. moving in one direction such as an electric motor which is connected by means of suitable gearing with the operating shaft, such gearing includ1ng automatic provisions for reversing the direction of the rotation of the operating shaft. Genera-11y these forms of mechanisms are more orless complicated and there is a comparatively great loss of power between the mo tor and the operating shaft. Therefore, it is necessary to employ an electric motor .which is considerably larger than necessary to operate the machine itself.

One of the objects of the present invention is to improve the efliciency of the mechanical connections'between the motor and the operating shaft of the machine,-whereby. a relatively small capacity motor may be effective to operate the same. i J

One manner of carrying out the foregoing object is to effect a connectlon between the motor and the operating shaft of the machine with the least possible amount of gearing in order that the transmission losses will be reduced to a Preferably this gearing consists of a worm on the motor shaft driving a worm gear mounted directly on the operating shaft of the machine without the interposition of reversing mechanism.

In order to effect the reversal of rotation cient means for efiectingthe periodical reversal of rotation of the motor itself, said reversal being dependent upon a predetermined movement of the operating shaft.

simple and effective electric switch which is periodically operated by a predetermined movement of the operating shaft. One manner of attaining the foregoing object is to connect one end of each of the sets of field windings to a brush, which is arranged to be brought mto contact with the motor com inutator, when it is desired that the field windings shall be rendered operative. In

thisconnection it is an object of the invention to provide that the brushes controlling the field circuits shall be lifted away from or be caused to engage the motor commuta- "tor automatically depending on a predetermined movement of the operating shaft.

It 1s a further object of the invention to so construct and arrange the mechanisms for lifting alternately the brushes controlling the field circuits that one or the other of the brushes will be in contact with the motor commutator, and that it will be impossible for both of these brushes to remain out of engagement with the motor commutator at the same time. In this manner it will be impossible for the automatic motor reversing mechanism to cause the motor to stop.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unitary structure, which may be applied to certain existin types of machines, such as washing mac ines, and which include a driving motor, an operating shaft capable of driving other. washing devlce, such unitary structure including also a support for the shaft, driving connection between the motor and the shaft and automatic mechanism for periodically reversin the motor.

A further 0 ject is to provide novel means for lubricating the mechanism in such a manner that the lubricant will not interfere with the operation of the motor and willnot a dolly or cylinder or come into contact with the washing device so as to soil the laund Other objects and a d vantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein an embodiment of a referred form of the pres ent invention is c early shown.

'In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of-a dolly type washing machine to which the resent invention is applied, the dolly belng shown in dotted lines;

Fig.2 is a side view partly in elevation of the operating mechanism embodying the present invention, and partly in section showing the gear structure and also the brush structure;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same partly in section, the section being taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the brush structure shown in Fig. 2; and showing one of the brushes out of engagement with the commutator;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the location of the brush actuating mechanism just before the brushes are alternated;

Fi 6 is an end view similar to Fig. 4 showing the position of the brushes after the brush actuating mechanism has been brought into eifect;

Fig. 7's a fragmentaryend view showing means whereby one of the brushes may be manually lifted out of engagement;

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of the motor circuits; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side view of the washing machine with the cover swung back on its hinges, showing the driving mechanism in section, the section being taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, 20 is a washing machine tub mounted upon a stand 21. Tub 20 is provided witha cover 22 connected with the tub by hinges 23. A unitary driving mechanism 24 mounted upon the cover 22 and held in place by the-screws 25, supports and actuates a dolly 26.

The unitary driving mechanism 24 consists of a unitary casting comprising the gear housing 28 and the stator member 27 of a rotary motor. In its mechanical aspect, the .motor has two members which are rotatable relative to one another, one being'the fixed member or stator 27 and the other heing the rotatable member or rotor 37. These members carry the electrical and magnetic elements of the motor, namely, the field winding and the armature winding, which are mounted one on the stator and the other on the rotor, inpa manner well known to those skilled in the art. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the field winding is mounted onor incorporated as part of the stator while the armature windin is mounted on or carried by the rotor. 0 this end, the stator or motor frame is provided with pole pieces 29' each carrying a pole shoe 30 and separate field windin s 31 and 32 up posed in their magnetic e ect. The rotor, carrying the armature winding and its commutator 38, is carried by shaft 34, which is journalled in the roller bearing 35 and the plain bearing 36 located in opposite walls of the housing 28, in such manner as to constitute a so-called overhanging rotor. The gear housing 28 forms an oil reservoir, the highest level of the oil being indicated by line 60. An end cap 39 is provided in one wall of the housing 28 for holding the outer race of bearing in position. Rotor shaft 34 is provided with arworm 40 and an oil throwing disc 41 having notches 42 therein, said disc 41 being held in position with respect to the worm 40 by means of a sleeve 43. The disc 41, sleeve 43 and inner race of the ball bearing 35 are clamped against the Worm 40 by the nut 44 on shaft 34. The wall 45 of gear housing 28 is rovided with a bearin 46 in which the dol y or operating shaft 4% is rotatably mounted. The bearing 46 projects upwardly from the wall 45 forming a seat or thrust bearing 48 for supporting a gear 49 attached to the operating shaft 47 and cooperating with worm 40. Gear 49 is attached to the operating shaft 47 by nut 50 and held in place by key 51.

A stud provided on the gear 49 comes in contact with an arm 56 lying within the path of movement of the stud 55. Arm 56 is connected to an oscillatory shaft 57 by screw 58. Shaft 57 projects through and 1s jours nallcd in the stator member 27 and operates a detent plate or cam 59 provided with .notches 61 and 62 and a point or camming part 63. A stud 64 is mounted on the cam 59 and projects outwardly and cooperates with an arcuate slot 65 formed in a brush lifting cam 66 provided with notches 67 and 68 and with cammihg'surfaces 69 and 70. A lever 72 is pivotally mounted on'the post 7 3, said post being secured to the stator member 27. A roller 74 provided on the lever 72 00-, operates with the cam 59. Roller 74 is held against cam 59 by a spring 75 connected to a. projecting arm 76 of the lever 72 and to a %ost 77 secured on the stator member 27.

rush arms 80, 81 and 82 are pivotally reversing switch; and spring 92 connected by insulating clip 93 with brush arm 82 and with post 94 carried by the stator member 27 tends to maintainthe brush 88 in engagement with the commutator 38.

Referring to the wiring diagram in Fig. 8, brush 87 is connected to one side of battery 96 by wire 97. Brush 88 is connected in series with field winding 32 for causing the motor to run in one direction, Brush 86 is connected to oppositely Wound field winding 31 so as to roduce an opposite magnetic effect i'elati v e to the armature winding, causing the motor to run in the opposite direction. Field windings 31 and 32 are connected by wire 95 to the opposite side of battery 96, as shown. The-magnetic effects produced by windings 31. and 32 are indi-- cated by arrows 31 and 32*, respectively.

Brush 87 is adapted to be manually thrown out of engagement with the commutator 38 by a cam 98 having a notch 99 and a camming surface 100. A roller on the brush arm 81 lies in the path of movement of the camming surface 100. The cam 98 is pivotally mounted upon a stub shaft and carries a handle 101 which projects outwardly through an end cover 102 for the brush structure so as to be readily accessible. The member, 27 and cover 102 constitute a housing for the motor.

The operation of the device is as follows: 1V hile the brushes 88 and 87 are in engage ment with the commutator 38, the field winding 32 will be rendered operable causing the worm 40 on the armature shaft 34 to move the gear 49 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. The gear 49 moving in this direction will eventually cause the.

stud to actuate the arm 56 lying within the path of movement of the stud 55 which will cause the shaft 57 and cam 59 to move in the direction as indicated by the arrow 105 shown in Fig. 5. The movement of the cam 59 which is produced by the operation of the motor will cause the roller 74 on the lever 72 to be withdrawn from the notch 62 and to be introduced into the other notch 61 on the other side of the camming point 63. This operation causes the spring 75 to be stretched beyond normal and then released to cause the roller 74 to roll quickly into the notch 61 of the cam 59 due to the tension of the spring upon the projecting arm 76 of the lever 7, 3.

The movement of the cam 59 will betransmitted to the cam 66 by the cooperating stud 64 and arcuate slot 65 causing the cam 66 to move in the same direction as the cam 59. The movement of the cam 66 in this direction will cause the roller 52 of the brush arm to roll out of. the notch 67 thereby permitting brush 86 to be moved into engagement with commutator 38. At the same time this movement of,cam 66 will cause motor Fig. 5. By this time roller 74 has moved around the point 63 ofcam 59 permitting the spring 75 to exert pressure in a direction causing further movement of cam 59 in the direction of arrow 105. This further movement of cam 59 is independent of the washing machine operating shaft, and continues due to the action of spring 7 5 untilcam 66 lifts brush 88 out of engagement and permits brush 86 to come into engagement with the con'imu'tator 38. By referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the spring 89 assists in the n'iovement of cam 66, so that cam 66 acts very quickly to release the brush 86 and disengage brush 88. It is apparent therefore that before the brush'88 is lifted outof engagement with the commutator, conditions are set up which cause the movement of the brushes independently of the movement of the washing machine operating. shaft, Therefore it is impossible for the to stop with the brush'shifting mechanism in such position that both brushes 86 and 88 are out of engagement with the commutator at the same time, though it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that this period of common engagement of the reversing brushes with the commutator may be varied somewhat or be entirely omitted without sacrificing any "of the advantages of the positive brush-shifting action above described which renders it impossible normally to stop the motor with its-brushes in a nonoperable position. y

There will be a brief interval during which both brushes 86 and- 88 will be in engagement with the commutator 38-at the same time. This condition works to advantage in that the magnetic .efiect of winding 32 is neutralized by the magnetic effect of Winding 31 before thewinding 31 is alone operative to produce an operative magnetic 1 effect opposite to, that produced by Winding 3 2. Therefore whenbrush 88is lifted from the commutator 38 sparking due to inductive effects, will be entirely suppressed. I-

greatly reduced if'not After brush 86 engages the commutator 38 posite direction producing counter-aloe wise rotation of gear 49 as viewed in Fig. 3. After a predetermined movement of gear 49 in this direction stud will contact with the opposite side of arm 56 causing cam 59 to be moved in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow 105. This movement will produce movements of brushes S8 and 86 from the positions shown in Fig. 6, to the respective positions shown in Fig. 4, in a manner similar to that described in connection with the shifting of-these brushes from positions shown in Fig. 4: to the respective positions shown in Fig. 6. The cycle of operations will then be repeated.

The motor is stopped by turning the handle 101 until the brush 87 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 7.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that certain advantages are present in the present invention. The simplicity of the reversing mechanism for the motor, results in being able to use a simple form of gearing between the motor and the operating shaft 47.

While the preferred form of motor herein illustrated has the field windings carried by the stator and the armature winding carried by the rotor, it should be understood that this is not intended as a limitation for it is well understoodby those skilled in that art that the arrangement may, with facility. be reversed, so that the field windingswill then be mounted on the rotor and the armature windings will be mounted on the stator. This, of course, will be accompanied by the necessary and obvious changes in the shape and location of various details of construction, such as. for example, the commutator.

The use of simple gearing, such as a worm and a cooperating gear, makes possible the combination of a motor and operating mechanism in a unitary structure. This type of construction reduces the transmission losses to a minimum.

The unitary structure provides a simple manner of mounting the driving mechanism upon the tub 'of a dolly type washing machine. A hole is drilled through the cover of the tub through which the operating shaft bearing 46 is inserted. The driving mechanism is then secured to the cover and the operating shaft is attached to the dolly shaft. In this "manner any covered tub may be quickly transformed into a power driven washing machine.

It is also an advantage to provide a unitary casting for the motor and gearing. The accurate locating of bearings for the motor and operating shaft is thereby greatly facilitated. No alignment of parts is necessary while the driving mechanism is being mounted on the tub.

The unitary structure also provides an oil reservoir and another advantage lies in providing an automatic lubricating system for the gearing and bearings. After the attendant has placed the required amount of oil into the reservoir, no other attention is necessary. The disc 41 on the armature shaft is partly submerged in the lubricant, and while the armature shaft is rotating oil will be beaten into a mist and thrown upon the gearing and bearings. The seat or thrust bearing 48, the bearings for the dolly operating shaft and the bearing for the brush oscillating shaft 57 will also receive a substantial amount of oil for permitting an 'etlicient operation of the gear and bearings. The seat of the dolly operating gear is located above the level of the oil contained in the gear housing. The oil cannot flow directly onto the dolly operating shaft and thence into the tub, but must first be thrown upon the seat in a mist form. Due to the shape of the gear an excess amount of oil will not be transmit-ted to the dolly operatin g shaft bearing for the lubrication thereof.

In Fig. 9, the washing machine cover 22 is shown in open position and turned back on its hinges 23. It will be noted that the construction of gear housing 28 is such that the oil level will remain below the gearing and will not be permitted to flow out through any bearings as the cover is turned about its hinges.

A flexible cable 106 shown in Fig. 9 connccts the motor with a socket 107.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the periodic reversal of the motor has been accomplished in a very simple manner. A motor requires at least two brushes. By adding one more brush, and by utilizing the brushes as switch contacts, a separate revcrsing switch and a separate out out switch are both eliminated. One of the bruhes serves as a cut out switch contact; two of the brushes serve as contacts for the reversing switch. Since the commutator serves as a switch contact it is apparent that these switches will have long life compared with switches wherein the same portions of all of the contacts are continually subjected to the passage of current and the interruption of current during successive operations thereof.

3y virtue of the brush shifting mechanism described, it is impossible, should current to the motor be interrupted, for the motor to stop with both of the reversing brushes out of engagement with the commutator at the same time. If such mechanism were not provided, it would be necessary to remove 'the end cover 102 and manually move one of these reversing brushes into engagement with the commutator so that the motor will operate when current is turned on again. In the present invention one of the reversing brushes is always in engagement with the, commutator.

The mechanismshown provides for sub stantially one revolution of the shaft 47 before it is reversed. In case less than one ilzl lVhile the forms of mechanism herein shown and described constitute preferred embodiments of one form of the present invention, other forms might be adopted and various changes and alterat onsmade in the shape, size, and proportion of the elements therein without departing from thescope of the invention. 4

\Vhat I claim is as='follows: I 1. A unitary motor and control therefo for operating a work machine having an oscillating member, comprising in combination, an electric motor, a shaft driven by the motor for operating the oscillating memvber, means controlled by .the shaft. for periodically reversing the motor, and a frame adapted to be attached to the work machine and supporting the shaft, the motor and all parts of the motor reversing means.

2. A unitary motor and control therefor for operating a work machine having an oscillating member, compr1s1ng 1n combination, an electric motor, a shaft driven by the motor for operating the oscillating member,

means controlled by the shaft for periodically reversing the motor, and a housing for completely enclosing the motor and all parts of the motor reversing means and providing for supporting the power head upon a work machine.

3. A unitary motor and control therefor for operating a work machine having an oscillating member, comprising in combination, an electric motor, a shaft driven by the motor for operating the oscillating member, means controlled by the shaft for periodically reversing the motor, and'a housing for completely enclosing the motor and all parts of the motor reversing means and providing for supporting the power head upon a work machine, said motor reversing means including a motor reversing switch located adjacent one end of the motor and mechanism for operating the'switch having operating connections with the motor adjacent the other end thereof.

4. 'A unitary motor and control therefor comprising, in combination, a housing containing a rotor and stationary field poles; a motor'rever'sing switch located adjacent one end of the rotor; and means having connections with the rotor adjacent the other end of the rotor and including a movable element extending between said poles for o crating the. reversing switch.

512 unitaryv motor and control therefor,

comprising, in combination, a housing providing a gear chamber and a field frame partitioned from the gear chamber; a rotor located within the field frame and having a shaft extending into the gear chamber; a second shaft extending into the gear chamber; gearing located in said chamber for connecting said shafts; and means operated by said second shaft for reversing the motor.

6. An electric motor and control therefor, comprising, in combination, stator and rotor members, one of said members carrying a plurality of windings for producing opposite magnetic effects; a reversing switch having contacts each connected with one of said windings and supported by the member provided with said windings, and having a conductor mounted on the other member of the motor; and motor operated means for causing one of the'contacts to engage said conductor, and another ofthe contacts to be disengaged from said conductor.

7. An electric motor and control therefor, i

comprising, in combination, stator and rotor members, the stator member carrying a plurality of windings for producing opposite magnetic effects; a reversing switch having contacts each connected with one of said stator windings and supported by the stator member, and having'a conductor carried by the rotor; and motor operated means for causing one of the contacts connected with a stator winding to engage the conductor, and the other stator winding to be disengaged. from the conductor.

8. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a motor having a plurality of field windings and an armature; of commutator brushes each so connected with one of the field windings as toproduce opposite magnetic effects by contact with the motor commutator; and motor controlled means for causing. said brushes alternately to engage the commutator whereby the motor is periodically reversed.

'9. In a deviceof the kind described, the combination with a motor having a plurality of field windings and an armature; of commutator brushes each so connected with one of the field windings as to produce opposite magnetic eifects by contact with the motor commutator; and motor controlled means for causing said brushes alternately to engage the commutator whereby the -motor is periodically reversed, said means causing the then disengaged brush to engage the commutator before the other brushv is disengaged from the commutator, and then to disengage the other brush.

10. In a device of the kind described, the

combination with a motor having a plurality of field windings and an armature;

of commutator brushes each so connected with one of the field windings as to produce opposite magnetic effects by contact, with the motor commutator; and 'motor controlled means including a spring actuated trip mechanism which 1s set into operation by the motor and then continues to operate independently of the motor to cause the then disengaged brush to engage the commutator and to disengage the other brush.

11. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a motor having an armature and electro-magnetic field producing means; of a plurality of brushes each connected with said field producing means so as to produce fields of opposite polarity when alternately connected in electrical circuit with the motor commutator; and motor controlled means for causing said brushes alternately to be connected in electrical cii= cuit with the commutator whereby the motor is periodically reversed; a commutator brush located,.as regards polarity, opposite to the first mentioned brushes; and manual means for moving said brush into inoperative or operative position.

12. An electric motor and control therefor comprising, in combination, a field including a plurality of field windings, an armature and commutator. brushes each so connected with one of the field windings as to produce opposite magnetic effects by contact with the commutator. and means for disengaging one brush from the commutator and permitting the other brush to engage the commutator whereby to reverse the motor.

13. An electric motor and control therefor comprising, in combination, a plurality of windings for producing opposite magnetic effects, a pair of movable brushes each of which is connected with one of said windings and is adapted to engage the commutator, a movable member for separating one of said pair of contacts from the commutator and for permitting the other of said pair of contacts to engage the third contact, and means controlled by the motion of the motor for actuating the movable member in either direction whereby to reverse the motor.

14. An electric motor and control therefor comprising, in combination, a plurality of windings for producing opposite magnetic eifccts, a pair of movable brushes each of which is connected with one of said windings and is adapted to engage the commutator, a movable member for separating one of said pair of contacts from the commutator and for permitting the other of said pair of contacts to engage the commutator, motor operated means for imparting a movement to the movable member, and spring operated means energized and then released by the motor operated means for completing the travel of the movable member in either direction to contact reversing position independentlyof the operation of the motor.

15. An electric motor and control there for comprising, in combination, a plurality of windings for producing opposite mag netic effects, pivotally mounted brushes each connected to one of said windings, spring means tending to move the brushes into eugagement with the commutator, an oscillatable cam for moving either brush out of engagement with the commutator, and means for operating the cam in either direction whereby to reverse the motor.

16. An electric motor and control therefor comprisin in combination, a plurality of windings or producing opposlte magnetic effects, pivotally mounted brushes each connected to one of said windings, spring means tendingto move the brushes into engagement with the commutator, an oscillatable cam for moving either brush out of engagement with commutator, a second oscillatable cam having notches defining. a camming part between the notches, a pivoted arm having an end portion for engaging the second cam, a spring urging said end por-- tion against said second cam, motor operated means for moving the second cam in either direction, and a lost motion connection be tween the first and second cams such that the motion of the motor will cause the end of the pivoted arm to be removed from one of said notches of the second cam and introduced into the other notch whereby said spring will be released to actuate the first cam independently of the motion of the motor.

17. An electric motor and control therefor comprising, in combination, a field including a plurality of field windings, an armature and commutator, brushes each so connected with one of the field windings as to produce opposite magnetic effects by con tact with the commutator, springs urging the brushes toward the commutator, a membcr movable into one position for disengaging one of said brushes and permitting the other brush to engage the commutator, and vice versa by movement of said memberinto another position, and means including a detent plate and spring actuated member cooperating therewith for retaining said member in either of its positions. 18. An electric motor and control there for comprising, in combination, a field including a plurality of field windings,'an armature and commutator, brushes each so connected with one of the field windings as to produce opposite magnetic effects by con tact with the commutator, springs urging the brushes toward the commutator, an oscillatable cam for moving either brush out of engagement with the commutator. a pivoted, notched plate movable with the cam, and aspring actuated lever having a part. received by said notches for yieldingly retaining the cam in either of its positions.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

RALPH L. LEE. 

